Recently, the China Association for Science and Technology teamed up with People.cn to launch a major feature series titled "Witnessing the Road of Science and Technology", which spotlights the efforts of China Haisum, a subsidiary of Poly Sinolight, in accelerating resource recycling and utilization.
Amid rapid urbanization, striking a balance between efficient resource utilization and ecological protection has become a critical issue. While manufacturing creates economic value, it also generates waste such as wastewater, spent batteries, and household waste, placing pressure on the environment. Today, a green transformation is underway, with Chinese enterprises consistently leveraging innovative technologies to turn "waste" into wealth. Join People.cn reporters in exploring the "rebirth" of everyday energy resources.
[Energy Reborn: Circular Solutions for Wastewater]
Industrial wastewater, once a "corrosive threat" and "suffocating burden" to ecosystems, now emerges as a powerful resource for circular utilization. Liu Wei, Vice President of China Haisum, noted that the company has developed high-concentration, high-salinity wastewater evaporation and crystallization technology. This technology not only treats wastewater but also enables the recovery of valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel—widely used in new energy batteries. Through advanced technologies, ammonia nitrogen in wastewater can also be efficiently recovered and converted into high-quality chemical raw materials or nitrogen fertilizers. This integrated process also generates by-products such as sodium chloride and sodium sulfate.
[Energy Circulation: The "Lithium Dream" Journey of Retired Batteries]
With the rapid rise of new energy vehicles, a wave of power battery retirements has swept in. In 2023, China's total volume of retired power batteries exceeded 580,000 tons. These retired batteries are far from being waste—they are valuable "wealth". According to Zhu Limin, a technical leader in the new energy and new materials sector at China Haisum, the company has established a sound industrial chain in battery recycling, covering everything from battery dismantling to the extraction of valuable metals. The recovery rates of nickel, cobalt, and manganese in ternary materials batteries exceed 98%, with that of lithium also hitting over 93%, which places us at the leading level in China. Through advanced technologies, metals extracted from retired batteries can be reintroduced into the production cycle as inputs for new batteries, markedly lowering energy consumption and pollution associated with primary mineral extraction.
[Energy Awakening: Transformation of Urban Waste into Resources]
Once regarded as an environmental burden, municipal solid waste is now becoming a source of clean energy. Xing Zhihui, technical lead for the waste-to-energy sector at China Haisum, explained that waste incineration power generation technology converts household waste into electricity, enabling highly efficient resource utilization. At present, more than 1,000 waste-to-energy projects have been commissioned across China, of which over 400 have involved China Haisum in design, consultancy, or EPC, accounting for approximately 40% of the market. These projects not only cut down waste and treat it in a harmless way but also provide cities with a steady supply of clean energy.
[Intelligent Energy Management: Data-Empowered Optimization]
Energy conservation and emissions reduction begin with "visibility". Technologies such as the Internet of Things, sensors, and data analytics are equipping energy management systems with "keen perception". Zhu Jianqing, Technical R&D Director of the Intelligent Manufacturing Division at China Haisum, noted that intelligent aeration systems—enabled by machine vision, big data, and IoT technologies—can achieve precise control of aeration processes, delivering energy savings of 5%-10% compared with traditional approaches. Through data integration, flexible manufacturers can better manage energy losses in their operations, enabling precise energy dispatch and driving greener development across the entire industrial chain.
From the rebirth of resources through "turning waste into wealth" to "data-empowered" lean manufacturing, this is a green pathway paved by science and technology. Looking ahead, with the continued application of innovative technologies, everyday life will become increasingly green, low-carbon, and beautiful.